The first round of French presidential elections will take place on 22 April. Socialist candidate FranÁois Hollande is expected to have the edge on incumbent Gaullist President Nicolas Sarkozy, but will likely not earn a majority, which would then set the scene for a run-off in May. But behind the scenes, few French voters are aware of the half-century-long secret system of la valise, ďthe suitcaseĒ system whereby African dictators send millions of francs to corrupt the European political process - by literally buying the French Presidency. [FranÁais]